Boboi’s tweets show he’s still a boy

Mukhriz's call for the deployment of the navy against Myanmar is not doing him and Pakatan Harapan any good.

COMMENT

PPBM Deputy President Mukhriz Mahathir is the latest person to join a group which no politician should strive to be a member of.

With his series of tweets over the persecution of Myanmar’s Rohingya community, the former Kedah Menteri Besar has joined the likes of Umno’s Bung Moktar Radin, who made global headlines for tweeting “Long Live Hitler” after Germany trashed Brazil 7-1 in the 2014 World Cup.

It is understandable that the reported murders and displacement of some 160,000 Rohingya people would draw all sorts of reactions, including calls for Putrajaya to impose economic sanctions against Myanmar. But Mukhriz’s response is the one that stands out, and for all the wrong reasons.

Mukhriz, who will likely hold a senior cabinet position should Pakatan Harapan wrest Putrajaya from Barisan Nasional, told the government to send the navy to the hotspot.

“I urge the Malaysian Government to deploy the Royal Malaysian Navy to the Bay of Bengal,” he said. “That is the only language that Myanmar would understand. Allah save the Rohingya.”

It’s hard to believe that such an immature statement would come from no less than a deputy president of a political party and the son of a statesman.

A small measure of drama in political discourse is acceptable, but calling on the government to take military action is going too far.

It’s amazing what damage you can do with just 140 characters. Mukhriz has shown he is out of his depth and how little he has to offer should PH form the government.

The brave men and women who dedicate their lives to safeguarding our borders aren’t sacrificial lambs for political mileage. There are many ways regional governments and global superpowers can exert pressure on Myanmar without resorting to brute force.

If there is a need to use our military resources, then perhaps Mukhriz should suggest that more should be done to protect the waters of Sabah from militants in Southern Philippines. After all, these militants are a direct threat to the security and sovereignty of the country.

It cannot be easy to live in Mahathir’s shadow. Even those who hate the former prime minister would acknowledge his courage in speaking up against the world’s superpowers.

Mukhriz, who is commonly known as Boboi, certainly has big shoes to fill, but he hasn’t done himself or Pakatan Harapan a favour with his tweets.

Let’s hope he doesn’t become defence minister if Pakatan Harapan wins GE14. - Mkini